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Thursday, June 28, 2012

In the spirit of the upcoming U.S. Independence Day and the CutCardStock Design Team showing how great cards can look with just a single layer of cardstock, here is a special digital image for our blog viewers. Simply print out this image on your favorite cardstock or blank card and share the spirit of the Stars and Stripes!

This image is FREE for the first 15 viewers who download it and just $1.00 after that. Just head over to CutCardStock.com and get your copy. You'll see a watermark on the image, but that will be removed for your downloaded, high quality pdf print file. Enjoy!

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Wow... this one layer card challenge was a little tough for me. I'm like an onion or a parfait - all about layers. (Thanks, Donkey!) I went to a favorite stamp set of mine, and got to work.

The stamp set is by Close to My Heart "Party Pennants" . I cut a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 Cryogen White cardstock to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2. Then, I folded it in half to create my A2 card. As a side note on the Cryogen White cardstock, it is more of an off-white than a bright white.

Then, I curved the acrylic stamp on the block to give them a good arc. In Desert Sand ink, I stamped the dotted line twice towards the top of the card, then alternated the flag stamps in various colors, coming near the dotted line. (all inks by Close to My Heart: Desert Sand, Topiary, Sunny Yellow, Cranberry and Moonstruck).

Next, I stamped the frame and the Happy Birthday Sentiment inside. Here's where I can't help myself for cutting. I cut a mask for the frame from a sticky note, and stuck it over the sentiment.

I used the confetti stamp all over the bottom, I wanted it to appear as if the confetti were coming from under the card and up the front. Finally, I sponged the Desert Sand ink around the edges of the card.

Cards this easy should be illegal. Just kidding. Clean and simple is fun!

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Wow. I love what Shannon created earlier this week for a single layer card. See it here. I wanted to try a similar technique but I must admit I wanted to cheat. I really wanted to create a card with a single layer but with a few bling things: beads, buttons, ribbons... It's hard for me not to add bling. But I think I managed to accomplish what I wanted: single layer and a bit of bling.

This is not hard to put together but take your time and enjoy the process!
Grab a stamp, ink and some markers.

Cut Classic Linen Solar White card stock in half so you have 2 pieces 5-1/2x8-1/2". Fold each of those in half to create 2 card backs.

Stamp three tea bag images onto the front of your card.

Color each tea bag and tag a different color. Use the gray colors to add depth to the sides of the tea bags.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Konnichiwa, everyone! Today I'm going to show you how to create a really pretty card made with just one layer...no paper piecing, no ribbons, no additional layers whatsoever. Might sound boring, but it's the complete opposite. It's a challenge to create depth, texture and perceived layers without actually adding additional pieces of paper or other embellishments.

Here's how I got started. I pulled out my Cherry Blossom stamp set that is included in Paper Made Bakery's June Fresh Baked Kit, aptly called Cherry Blossom. The set is by Sweet Stamp Shop and available only in this kit during June. I used a simple black ink border, some Copic markers, Distress Inks and sponge blending tools and some blue painter's masking tape.

I cut my Neenah Classic Crest cardstock in Solar White to 4.25" x 11", then scored and folded my card to get a 4.25" x 5.5" fresh white card front. The stamp set includes a really pretty cherry blossom branch, and I wanted to make that the focal point without making it seem like it was simply suspended in midair, so I blocked off .75" on each side of the card with blue painter's masking tape. I drew a line with a fine black marker to create borders. I stamped the little cluster of cherry blossoms along each border and then colored them with Copic Markers.

The branch was stamped and then the paper lantern images were "hung" from the tree branch. Everything was then colored in with Copics. Here is the selection of marker colors I used.

I wanted to give the card some depth, so I used the foam blending tool and Distress Inks in Shabby Shutters (green) and Tumbled Glass (blue) to blend the inks in a sort of crafty "scrubbing" motion. This technique provides the blue sky and the green background to the blossom borders. So you see, this is a one layer card -- ink on paper. Very simple, yet very striking!

Friday, June 1, 2012

It’s time for another challenge here on the CutCardStock
Blog and we hope you’ll join us!

For
this challenge, the rules are simple…. create a masculine card. This may not sound like a difficult
challenge, but sometimes it’s easy to be inspired to create something fancy and
feminine. With upcoming events in June, we can be inspired by what others
are creating for the men in our lives!

Beyond following the theme, there are no rules - just be
creative! You can make a Father’s Day
card, graduation or birthday card…. a just because card…. it’s up to you.

How to enter: Simply
post an image and some details about your challenge creation on your blog, your
online gallery, Splitcoast, Flikr, Facebook, etc. Then add
your link through the CutCardStock Blog Challenge post. The dates of the challenge are June 1 – 15th,
so enter before the challenge closes. (The Linky party will be open from 6am (Mountain
Time) June 1st until 11:59pm (Mountain Time) June 15th.)

On Sunday, June 17th, we will announce the
winners. Prizes will be awarded for 1st
Place, 2nd Place and Viewer’s Choice. 1st and 2nd place
winners will be chosen by a panel of CutCardStock Team members and the Viewer’s
Choice will be the entry with the highest number of “likes”, so you can vote
for your favorite.

Prize values are as
follows:

Viewer’s Choice - $30 Gift
Certificate to CutCardStock.com,

2nd Place - $30 Gift Certificate to
CutCardStock.com and

1st Place- $40.00 Gift Certificate to
CutCardStock.com.

In addition to winning the gift certificates, the chosen
entries will befeaturedon the CutCardStock blog and one winner will be asked
to be a guest blog contributor!

We hope you are as excited about this challenge as we are; help spread the word! We can't wait to see your creations are award those great prizes!

PROMOTE this Challenge on your Blog, Facebook, Forum, or Twitter and then email us the link at info@CutCardStock.com or post your link on the CutCardStock Facebook and we will email or message a $5 off your next purchase Coupon!